I have had a Super Program for years and the ONLY thing that has ever given me a problem is that the film counter is stuck at 36. It's a decent handling camera and I especially like the DOF preview lever. Small but not too small with a nice thumb and finger grip that really make it pleasure to use. Accurate metering too.
I also have the ME Super which handles nicely despite not having any grips nor DOF lever, button, etc. However, my favorite is my MX which I feel is THE perfect camera!
Of course my Spotmatic SPll is quite nice in it's own right.
Overall I think most any Pentax is a good choice!!

I have had a Super Program for years and the ONLY thing that has ever given me a problem is that the film counter is stuck at 36. It's a decent handling camera and I especially like the DOF preview lever. Small but not too small with a nice thumb and finger grip that really make it pleasure to use. Accurate metering too.
I also have the ME Super which handles nicely despite not having any grips nor DOF lever, button, etc. However, my favorite is my MX which I feel is THE perfect camera!
Of course my Spotmatic SPll is quite nice in it's own right.
Overall I think most any Pentax is a good choice!!

Thanks! Do all the functions/modes work with all manual focus Pentax lenses, or only with the "A" designation lenses? Seems like Pentax lenses have become even pricier recently, especially the "A" ones. If I'm able to get all the metering and other functions to work with "M" lenses I think it would be less expensive/easier to find "M" lenses than "A" lenses.

When an "A" lens with it set at "A" mode on the aperture ring and the camera set to Auto (Program mode) the camera picks the aperture and shutter speed for you with the only override being the exposure compensation dial. Set at "A" in manual mode changes both aperture and shutter to the correct exposure using the up/down buttons. With the camera set on Auto and the lens not on "A" as you change the aperture on the aperture ring the shutter speed changes automatically to provide correct exposure. In manual mode you pick a shutter speed and use the aperture ring or button to set aperture or shutter speed.
Using a "M" lens with camera in Auto mode, the buttons do nothing. You set the aperture on the lens and camera sets shutter speed automatically. In Manual mode, you set shutter with the button and aperture with a button also or if you want a different aperture you would use the aperture ring and the shutter button to set the correct shutter speed.

Hope I didn't over complicate this...(I think I got lost somewhere myself), but basically both types of lenses will work, just a bit differently. If you want true point and shootability where the camera does the heavy lifting and you just focus then get an "A" lens. I, myself, never use it that way as I like to control both aperture and shutter...as it should be in a perfect world!!

With all that said, the "A" lens used in Auto mode and camera in Manual is a definite time saver and convenience. Hope all this helps a bit.

I have a Program Plus, camera works great and Pentax lenses are second to none. I just don't like their system of pushing buttons to change the manual settings. (same reason my newest Nikon that I use is an F4, the N55 and F60 sit in a drawer)

A buddy of mine bought a brand new Super Program right when they came out. His girlfriend who eventually became his wife worked at the airport and was able to give him special access. He was wanting to shoot some double exposure shots and told me that his camera couldn't do that so he borrowed my Contax 139. He was very happy shooting my Contax.

If you want to shoot double exposures this may be something you want to look into. I don't know if my buddy knew what he was talking about or not.

When an "A" lens with it set at "A" mode on the aperture ring and the camera set to Auto (Program mode) the camera picks the aperture and shutter speed for you with the only override being the exposure compensation dial. Set at "A" in manual mode changes both aperture and shutter to the correct exposure using the up/down buttons. With the camera set on Auto and the lens not on "A" as you change the aperture on the aperture ring the shutter speed changes automatically to provide correct exposure. In manual mode you pick a shutter speed and use the aperture ring or button to set aperture or shutter speed.
Using a "M" lens with camera in Auto mode, the buttons do nothing. You set the aperture on the lens and camera sets shutter speed automatically. In Manual mode, you set shutter with the button and aperture with a button also or if you want a different aperture you would use the aperture ring and the shutter button to set the correct shutter speed.

Hope I didn't over complicate this...(I think I got lost somewhere myself), but basically both types of lenses will work, just a bit differently. If you want true point and shootability where the camera does the heavy lifting and you just focus then get an "A" lens. I, myself, never use it that way as I like to control both aperture and shutter...as it should be in a perfect world!!

With all that said, the "A" lens used in Auto mode and camera in Manual is a definite time saver and convenience. Hope all this helps a bit.

Thanks! So, if I understood correctly I will lose "Program" mode if I use an "M" lens. Not that I shoot much in Program mode; I prefer Aperture Priority when it comes to automation. It would be nice to have Program mode as a feature (when I hand the camera over to someone else for a quick snapshot), but not really essential in my case. I can live without Program mode as long as I have Aperture Priority mode.